The Argos at BMO Field: The Story Continues

Yesterday the news broke that the plan to renovate/expand BMO Field is going to have to go forward without the inclusion of the Toronto Argonauts.

The reason for this is that the federal government has not signed off on providing a portion of the funds that Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (the owners of TFC and the company that will fund most of the BMO Field renovations) has requested to help complete this project. The reason for this? The Conservative Party of Canada has made it a policy not to help fund stadium projects that are not associated to University programs.

For a guy who loves sports, this policy is actually something I really like. I think there is way too much public money dished out to the private sector when it comes to sports. Plus, MLSE isn't exactly cash poor.

That said, the renovations of BMO Field must go on to be able to host the rugby 7s tournament portion of the Pan-Am games and MLSE has gotten the construction plans re-drawn. The new set of plans do not account for moving the north our south end of the stadium which means that pitch at BMO will not be long enough to fit a CFL size field.

This also puts the Argos in a tough spot. Not only are they back to having to find a new home before 2017 (when Rogers has told them they will not be renewing the least at the Rogers Centre so they can install a permanent grass baseball only field) but now they do not have a perspective buyer. Their current owner, David Braley also owns the B.C. Lions and purchased the Argos in an attempt to keep the team from folding back in 2010 when the previous owners just gave up and walked away from the team.

A third factor comes into play here as well. With the passing of Ralph Wilson recently, the Buffalo Bills are up for sale. The idea that someone in MLSE (most likely Larry Tanenbaum) wants to purchase the team and move them to Toronto has been floating around for quite some time. The NFL has made it very clear that they do not want an NFL team in Toronto to be the death of the Argonauts and they would prefer that the owner of an NFL team in Toronto also own the Argos.

With what has transpired over the past 24 hours the question is: did something about a potential purchase of the Bills fall through? Is that why MLSE is no longer willing to try and incorporate the Argos as part of BMO Field?

My opinions have been made on this blog before. Frankly, as a TFC fan first and foremost, I'm happy. I don't want to see the grass removed from BMO. If we didn't have grass here I'm confidant that Bradley and Defoe would not have even considered a transfer to Toronto. I also love the CFL and the Argos so I don't want to see them go, I just don't see BMO as a proper home for gridiron football.

I think for the Argos to come up with an ideal solution it's time to look to York University. The subway line is going to be going that far north, the team is already holding pre-season at the campus, the university could raise their program's profile in CIA and although I have heard a few opinions say it's not possible, there may even be a way to convert the track and field stadium currently being built on site (for the 2015 Pan-Am Games) in facility that could house the Argos. Another option might be to look just north of BMO in Liberty Village. Lamport Stadium and the south side parking lot may be just big enough to put up a 25,000 seat stadium. Granted it probably couldn't be expanded for larger events like the Grey Cup but it still might work.

Either way, the Argos need to look elsewhere and if they want government funding they should probably consider teaming up with a school.

Busy Toronto Sports Day

Yesterday was an interesting day for Toronto sports.

The first news of Phil Kessel re-signing with the Leafs broke, and now it seems like it will be an 8 year deal at 8 million per year. That's big money but he's also the big name player for this team so I don't feel strongly either way about the deal. It makes sense, offer him some more cash so he doesn't test the market.

The news of a roof at BMO field broke this past weekend (funny enough, I first saw the news on TV while eating a post TFC-game burrito in liberty village) and I've been looking for a good reaction from both supporters and non-supporters with very little luck. The main concern is that the cost will be passed on via increases to ticket prices.
Personally, I like BMO a lot. It's not the fanciest stadium, nor is it state of the art. I get it, Tim Leiweke wants to make TFC one of the premier clubs in MLS. TFC already has a great academy set up and now they want to make BMO one of the best grounds. I just don't think MLSE needs to spend 100 million on a roof at BMO. For that money they could build a new stadium and leave BMO to the city and the Argos.
If BMO gets a glass roof, I won't really care (assuming that the glass won't obstruct the scenery surrounding BMO) but I think that BMO is unique in the sense that the stadium is an addition to the exhibition grounds as opposed to being a stadium built on a plot of land that was designated for a stadium. At certain times over the summer you get to see the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) in the background and other times you can hear the music coming from the Molson Amphitheater across the street or even seeing the Honda Indy being set up. It's really cool how the different events of the year take place around this stadium and putting a roof on the stadium could block all that out. Not to mention the view of the CN Tower rising up over the east side stands. BMO field; for all it's plumbing issues in cold weather and it's "lack of amenities" (which, I would argue are just fine) is a unique little stadium in a prime spot and I really don't want to see the experience compromised.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that the concern is when it is raining no one is coming to the games, but frankly I don't care. I'm a half season ticket holder since season 2. I know that come rain or shine the real supporters of TFC will be in attendance regardless.
I love BMO. Don't change it just for the sake of saying "we have a roof".

Then we got the news about Drake and the Raptors yesterday. 
Frankly, I'm not a huge basketball fan. I enjoy going to games as I feel basketball is a much better in-stadium game than it is on TV but I really dislike how the NBA has become a league of guys grouping together via free agency and trying to win championships all together in the city that is the flavor of the week. First it was Boston, then Miami and now, Brooklyn.
Part of the reason it is Brooklyn, at least it is apparent that the Raptors believe, is due to Jay-Z's involvement with getting the Nets out of New Jersey. I'm not so naive to think that it didn't play a part but then again Jay-Z was also a part owner.
Drake is not.
Drake is a famous rapper that happens to be from Toronto and goes to a fair amount of games. That's it. Are the Lakers giving Jack Nicolas an undefined role as "Global Ambassador" because he has season tickets? Come on. This is so stupid. Drake isn't going to be negotiating contracts or trying to make trades. Masai Ujiri is.
Look, I get it. The MLSE wants to turn the Raptors around because, outside of a few years when Vince Carter was around, this team has been nothing but a joke. So how do you do that? You win. You don't bring on a famous rapper, your don't change the team's name (thank goodness that isn't happening) and, you don't try to make the future all about hosting an all-star game (which Toronto will do in 2016). Congrats on getting the all-star game, but you don't make that the biggest deal for basketball in Toronto since the team came to town.
I'm glad Drake wants to see the Raptors win. So do I and, I bet so do many other people out there. Do I deserve a job with the Raptors because of that? No, because I don't know enough about basketball.
Frankly, I'm embarrassed (as a big sports fan who is a resident of the GTA and supports Toronto's teams) about the publicity stunt pulled yesterday. If it wasn't enough only last week Drake was on ESPN's First Take and said (and I quote) "That's my team. I'm always there, I'm always supporting" in reference to Miami. LAST WEEK!!!!
Stupid.

Those are my rants for today. Surprisingly it was not the Leafs that got me going today. Drop me a comment if you agree or disagree, I'd love to hear the opinions out there.